Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Ignite 365: Compassion for the Lost (16 of 365)



"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." -Psalm 119:105

Psalms and Wisdom Literature: Psalm 15

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?
This is the question David asked on this Psalm. So, who really can dwell or live on God's holy place? As the Bible says in Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please him..."

David then listed several acts of faith:

  • walks blamelessly and does what is right
  • speaks truth in his heart
  • does not slander with his tongue
  • does no evil to his neighbor
  • does not take up a reproach against his friend
  • in whose eyes a vile person is despised (angry with the wickedness)
  • honors those who fear the Lord
  • swears to his own hurt and does not change (even if his oath means it will hurt him, he sticks to his oath)
  • does not put out his money at interest
  • does not take a bribe against the innocent


And the result? They shall never be moved. As Matthew Henry commented,

"The grace of God shall always be sufficient for him, to preserve him safe and blameless to the heavenly kingdom. Temptations shall not overcome him, troubles shall not overwhelm him, nothing shall rob him of his present peace nor his future bliss."

Pentateuch and History of Israel: Genesis 16

Sarai and Hagar
Impatience in Sarai and Abram was manifested during these times. They tried to do it on their own because they felt God would not be giving unto them what He had promised long ago. This resulted to Hagar, Sarai's Egyptian servant, having a son from Abram, named Ishmael. Ishmael later became the ancestor of the Arab people.

How many times did we become like Abram and Sarai, where we feel that God has abandoned us already and would not grant us what He has promised? Focus on Him, He remains faithful, that is even in times when we are the ones who are unfaithful.


Chronicles and Prophets: 1 Chronicles 16:4–43

David's Song of Thanks and Worship Before the Ark
David assigned some Levites for worship before the Lord. Also David composed a song to be sung by the Levites.


Gospels and Epistles: Luke 9:51–10:24

This described a person who has so much "Passion" for the Lord, but does not have "Compassion" for the lost. When they were rejected by the village, James and John said to Jesus:

“Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

Jesus rebuked them, and some manuscripts add:

and he said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man came not to destroy people's lives but to save them”

May "passion" for the Lord and "compassion" for the lost be both found in us.

The next verses talked about the cost of following Christ. Also, when the 72 disciples came back to Jesus to report their great victories, Jesus said:

“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

It must be noticed that Jesus shifted their focus on the greater reward that they have, rather than the momentary little victories at that time.


© 2014 Erickson Ibana

Image can be found at http://www.centerdigitaled.com/workforce/Compassion-The-Lost-Leadership-Quality.html

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